A major update of the much-loved Ubuntu Linux distribution has been scheduled for April 2008. In true open source tradition, the company sponsoring the project is seeking suggestions from users for features they would like to see included.

Version 8.04, or “Hardy Heron” as it’s been tagged, is a “long-term support” release, which means it will be supported by security updates for five years on the server and three years on the desktop. A minor update, version 7.10, or “Gutsy Gibbon” is due for release next month.

Jono Bacon, community manager for Canonical, the commercial entity that sponsors Ubuntu, said that with each new release cycle the Ubuntu community is getting  stronger.

“Each new release gives us all an opportunity to shine, irrespective of which bricks in the project we are laying, and this is at the heart of our belief – working together to produce an operating system that will empower its users and shape the IT industry, putting free software at the corner-stone of our direction,” he wrote on his blog.

“Thousands of us get out of bed every day, united behind Ubuntu, ready to make a difference, working together to make our vision happen.”

Bacon said that the ethos of collaboration and freedom extends to the development process as well as the end product, and has invited users to get involved by suggesting ideas for features that should be present in Hardy Heron. Bacon has asked that users write their ideas as specifications, outlining how the idea would work and be implemented, and submit them to: https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu.

A Ubuntu Developer Summit is being held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, on October 27 to allow interested parties to help scope out the proposed features and determine methods and plans to implement them.

“Everyone is welcome to participate, everyone is welcome to get involved, and everyone is welcome to help shape the form of the Hardy Heron,” said Bacon.  

“Let’s work together to shake things up, make things happen and make the most compelling Ubuntu release yet.”

What I think is interesting is that the new version of Ubuntu is just eight months away, and yet the sponsor is only now actively seeking suggestions for new features. The new features that get the green light will be planned into the operating system in October, which will give the Ubuntu development community about six months to create “Hardy Heron”. That’s pretty impressive considering how long it takes Microsoft to do a major Windows update.

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Entry was posted on Friday, August 31st, 2007 at 11:46 am under Linux, Open source.

Read more entries by John Pospisil.
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